By Mark Duell and James Tozer for the Daily Mail
Published: 07:05 EDT, 14 July 2022 | Updated: 11:29 EDT, 14 July 2022
Downing Street today called the week's second Cobra meeting on the heatwave, as Britain prepares to endure temperatures of up to 39C (102F) from next Monday and the Government brings in contingency measures.
Cabinet Office Minister Kit Malthouse chaired the meeting of the Cobra (Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms) civil contingencies committee, which comes just three days after the first crisis meeting was held on Monday.
The Prime Minister's spokesman said the move was a 'progression' of the 'significant work ' that had already been done to prepare, and there were contingency measures which have been enacted or are ready to be enacted.
It comes as river levels are at 30 per cent of normal levels, farmers are using a third more water and Britons have been told to take shorter showers after the lowest rainfall in more than a quarter of a century in parts of the UK.
Farmers warned today of a 'significant challenge' posed by the extremely dry weather as they try to keep crops fully watered in the face of rising fuel, electricity and fertiliser costs during the heatwave gripping Britain.
East Anglia is particularly parched this summer after it saw just two thirds of its normal rainfall in the first half of 2022, making it the region's driest six-month period since 1996 and the 11th driest since records began in 1836.
Some rivers in the area are drying out – such as the River Waveney which is at only 30 per cent of its normal flow - while millions of households in Yorkshire have been urged to cut water use or face the prospect of a hosepipe ban.
The Environment Agency has classified the Waveney's flow rate as 'exceptionally low', while the River Great Ouse in Ely, Cambridgeshire; the River Yare in Norfolk; and the Little Ouse in Thetford are all now labelled 'notably low'.
Yorkshire Water has said it cannot rule out a hosepipe ban and is urging residents to spend at least one minute less having a shower - suggesting singing Bon Jovi's Livin' On A Prayer to reduce their time to four minutes. Bookmaker William Hill is offering 3/1 on a hosepipe ban to start in the next six weeks, for the first time since 2012.
One farmer on the Norfolk/Suffolk border said he would normally budget £80,000 for electricity to pump water around his crop fields, and this had already gone up to £250,000 this season. But this is now set to increase to £300,000 because of an extra 25 to 30 per cent of water that he is having to pump due to the very dry weather.
Yesterday, the Met Office extended its extreme heat warning to last from Sunday until the end of next Tuesday for most of England and Wales amid warnings of chaos on transport networks and in the NHS and other services.
But there will be some temporary respite, with today set to be the first day since July 9 that temperatures have not got to at least 30C (86F) in the UK, with highs of 27C (81F) to 29C (84F) expected between today and Saturday.
However the amber warning then begins at midnight on Saturday night, with highs of 33C (91F) forecast on Sunday before the peak of the heat on Monday and Tuesday when up to 39C (102F) is expected in London.
The Met Office confirmed today that 'exceptional heat is possible for southern and central areas of the UK late this weekend and early next week, with temperatures likely in excess of 35C (95F) in some places'.
Ministers and officials have been drawing up plans with the NHS and councils, with ambulance trusts on high alert. The Prime Minister's spokesman said there were 'tried and tested' plans in the NHS for increasing staffing in relevant areas, adding: 'There have already been some co-ordination meetings at official level across Government.
'This is a progression of that to ensure that - as we come into what are predicted to be the hottest days - that the necessary mitigations and actions are in place or being but in place. A lot of this is making sure the public are aware of the advice that is available - particularly those with young children or vulnerable family members.'
After chairing the Cobra meeting, Mr Malthouse said the Government is preparing for a 'surge' in demand on the NHS and other services and that the public should look out for people who are particularly vulnerable in the heat.
He told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: 'The key thing we can do is prepare the Government services for what may be a surge in demand - not least the health service and elsewhere - but also critically communicate that the first line of defence is actually individual behavioural change. People need to take care, do all the stuff they would do when it is very hot - wear a hat, drink water - but critically also (with) the most vulnerable groups - the elderly, those with cardiovascular problems and the very young - that people look out for them and take care.
'We are asking people if they have an elderly neighbour, particularly if they live alone, it would be a neighbourly thing to check up on them and make sure they are looking after themselves and have access to water. The current forecast is that we will be in the mid to high-30Cs but there is a smaller possibility that we could exceed that and possibly hit 40C which would be an all time record.'
Some workers are looking forward to some bonus time off - with David Davies, the owner of drinks exporter Sovereign Beverage Company in Blackburn, Lancashire, giving all staff the day off next Monday to enjoy the heat.
Meanwhile all steam locomotives have been suspended on the Severn Valley Railway between Bridgnorth and Kidderminster until at least next Tuesday because the hot and dry weather 'poses a significant risk of fires being started by cinders escaping from the engines' - with services instead being hauled by heritage diesel locomotives.
And a series of summer events from fairs to markets and carnivals to dog shows are being cancelled across the country due to the heat - including a cheese market in Chiswick, West London, and a dog show in Bude, Cornwall.
Also cancelled this weekend are a school fair in Steeple Bumpstead, Essex; a carnival in Hungerford, Berkshire; an animal sanctuary event in Lincolnshire; a brewery open day in Silchester, Berkshire; and various country walks. It follows a series of sports days being cancelled at schools this week due to the weather being too hot for children.
The Welsh Government said all organisers should 'assess whether all or part of the event should be postponed' after considering 'additional communications' for attendees 'on recommended safe behaviours' and whether any shade, water stations and other measures can be imposed 'to mitigate against the worst effects of extreme heat'.
Despite the heat, June 17 still stands as the hottest day of 2022 so far when 32.7C (90.9F) was recorded in London. The UK's highest ever temperature was 38.7C (101.6F) in Cambridge on July 15, 2019 - and the Met Office said there is a 20 per cent chance this will be broken, but that is down from a figure of 30 per cent given earlier this week.
An Environment Agency spokesman told MailOnline: 'Dry weather this year has led to receding river flows across much of England and reservoir levels falling across Yorkshire, central and southwest England. Hot weather will increase pressure on our water environment and wildlife. We are working with water companies and other abstractors to monitor water resources and ensure the needs of water users and the environment are met. We can all do our part to use water wisely, reduce our usage and manage this precious resource.'
Also today, weather expert John Hammond told GB News: 'I think there will be hundreds of thousands of excess deaths early next week. The charts that I can see in front of me are frightening. We all like nice weather but this will not be nice weather, this will be potentially lethal weather for a couple of days. It will brief, but it will be brutal.'
BBC meteorologist Mr Hammond added: '40C is the sort of temperature that this country, I'm afraid, is just not geared up to cope with. So if you're an employer, I'd be worried about early next week how your workers are going to safely get to work. And if you're an employee, then I would be asking my employer with potentially railway lines going buckled and lots of infrastructure disruption, how am I going to get to work, should I be getting to work?'
Very low water levels on the Derwent Reservoir in the Peak District which is running dry today as temperatures in the UK soar
A close up of the dry Derwent Reservoir in the Peak District today which has low water levels amid the UK heatwave
Very low water levels on the Derwent Reservoir in the Peak District which is running dry today as temperatures in the UK soar
The dry weather has revealed the remains of the village West End under Thruscross Reservoir near Harrogate, pictured today
The remains of the village West End can be seen under Thruscross Reservoir near Harrogate today due to the low water level
Remains from the village of West End today, which was evacuated in the 1960s before being flooded for Thruscross Reservoir
The remains of the village West End can be seen under Thruscross Reservoir near Harrogate today due to the low water level
The dry weather has revealed the remains of West End under Thruscross Reservoir near Harrogate, pictured today
The remains of the village West End can be seen under Thruscross Reservoir near Harrogate today due to the low water level
Remains from the village of West End today, which was evacuated in the 1960s before being flooded for Thruscross Reservoir
The remains of the village West End can be seen under Thruscross Reservoir near Harrogate today due to the low water level
Remains from the village of West End today, which was evacuated in the 1960s before being flooded for Thruscross Reservoir
The remains of the village West End can be seen under Thruscross Reservoir near Harrogate today due to the low water level
The remains of the village West End can be seen under Thruscross Reservoir near Harrogate today due to the low water level
Remains from the village of West End today, which was evacuated in the 1960s before being flooded for Thruscross Reservoir
The remains of the village West End can be seen under Thruscross Reservoir near Harrogate today due to the low water level
Remains from the village of West End today, which was evacuated in the 1960s before being flooded for Thruscross Reservoir
The remains of the village West End can be seen under Thruscross Reservoir near Harrogate today due to the low water level
Remains from the village of West End today, which was evacuated in the 1960s before being flooded for Thruscross Reservoir
The remains of the village West End can be seen under Thruscross Reservoir near Harrogate today due to the low water level
The remains of the village West End can be seen under Thruscross Reservoir near Harrogate today due to the low water level
Remains from the village of West End today, which was evacuated in the 1960s before being flooded for Thruscross Reservoir
Low water levels photographed today at Threipmuir reservoir in the Pentland Hills Regional Park, south of Edinburgh
Dry ground at Threipmuir reservoir in the Pentland Hills Regional Park near Edinburgh is photographed today
Low water levels photographed today at Threipmuir reservoir in the Pentland Hills Regional Park, south of Edinburgh
Dry ground at Threipmuir reservoir in the Pentland Hills Regional Park near Edinburgh is photographed today
Low water levels photographed today at Threipmuir reservoir in the Pentland Hills Regional Park, south of Edinburgh
Dry ground at Threipmuir reservoir in the Pentland Hills Regional Park near Edinburgh is photographed today
Low water levels at the Burrator Reservoir within Dartmoor in Devon are pictured today as the heatwave continues
The Burrator Reservoir at Dartmoor in Devon is also seeing low water levels, which are pictured today from above
Low water levels at the Burrator Reservoir within Dartmoor in Devon are pictured today as the heatwave continues
The Burrator Reservoir at Dartmoor in Devon is also seeing low water levels, which are pictured today from above
Brown grass at Greenwich Park in South East London today as the heatwave continues across England this week
A woman sunbathes at Greenwich Park in South East London today as the heatwave continues across England this week
Brown grass at Greenwich Park in South East London today as the heatwave continues across England this week
Two women look at a phone at Greenwich Park in South East London today as the heatwave continues
Brown grass at Greenwich Park in South East London today as the heatwave continues across England this week
Brown grass at Greenwich Park in South East London today as the heatwave continues across England this week
Brown grass at Greenwich Park in South East London today as the heatwave continues across England this week
A view of the City of London from Greenwich today as the heatwave continues in the UK
Brown grass at Greenwich Park in South East London today as the heatwave continues across England this week
Andrew Blenkiron, director of the Euston Estate near Thetford and chairman of the National Farmers Union in Suffolk, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning: 'We grow winter cereals here – so that's wheat and barley, we grow sugar beet for a British Sugar factory just down at Bury St Edmonds.
'And we grow about 1,200 acres of irrigated root crops – so that's parsnips, potatoes, carrots and onions, and that's where our significant challenge has arisen at the moment to try and keep those crops fully watered to ensure that they meet market specifications and indeed generate a yield.
The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for extreme heat for the whole on Sunday, covering most of England and some of Wales.
The extreme heat warning system ranges from yellow to red and indicates how likely and how much of an impact the weather will have on public life. An amber warning states that temperatures are likely to have a high impact.
The warning for Sunday states: 'Some exceptionally high temperatures are possible during Sunday and could lead to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure'.
Forecasters say the heatwave could impact the health of everyone – not only the vulnerable – while it could also impact electricity, gas and water supplies. Here is how it could impact different parts of daily life:
The Met Office says that delays and cancellations to rail travel are possible with 'potential for significant welfare issues for those who experience even moderate delays'.
Network Rail has warned that services across the UK may be subject to speed restrictions to avoid tracks buckling, with South Western Railway and Heathrow Express among the operators warning of potential disruption. West Midlands Trains imposed a 20mph limits yesterday on the route between Stratford-upon-Avon, Leamington Spa and Kidderminster.
The Met Office says that delays on roads and road closures are possible during the heat alert period.
The RAC has urged motorists to 'think carefully before they drive, and do everything they can to avoid a breakdown'. It says motorists should check the coolant and oil levels under the bonnet when the engine is cold.
It added: 'If temperatures were to go as high as around 40c as some are predicting, then people should question their decision to drive in the first place.'
Hampshire County Council is preparing to deploy gritters in response to melting roads, saying that the machines will be spreading light dustings of sand which 'acts like a sponge to soak up excess bitumen'.
Motorists who find tar stuck to their tyres are advised to wash it off with warm soapy water.
The Met Office has warned that air travel could also be disruption during the heat. This is because planes can become too heavy to take off in very hot weather due to reduced air density resulting in a lack of lift.
This happened during a heatwave in summer 2018 at London City Airport when some passengers had to be removed so the services become light enough to take off on the relatively short runway.
The Met Office has warned that a failure of 'heat-sensitive systems and equipment' is possible. This could result in a loss of power and other essential services, such as water, electricity and gas.
Hot weather can lead to high demand on the power network because people are turning on fans and air conditioning - and the heat can also lead to a drop in the efficiency of overhead power cables and transformers.
The Met Office says that 'changes in working practices and daily routines will be required' in the extreme heat.
There is no specific law for a maximum working temperature, or when it is too hot to work.
But employers are expected to ensure that in offices or similar environments, the temperature in workplaces must be 'reasonable'. Companies must follow follow health and safety laws which include keeping the temperature at a comfortable level, known as 'thermal comfort'; and providing clean and fresh air.
The Trades Union Congress says that during heatwaves staff should be allowed to start work earlier, or stay later, leave jackets and ties in the wardrobe and have regular breaks. It is also calling for an absolute maximum indoor temperature of 30C (86F) - or 27C (81F) for strenuous jobs - to legally indicate when work should stop.
The Met Office has said that adverse health effects could be 'experienced by all, not just limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to serious illness or danger to life' during the amber warning.
In addition, charity Asthma and Lung UK has warned up to three million asthma sufferers could be affected by high pollen levels, so should use their inhalers.
Plans to cope with the heat, created by the NHS and UKHSA, say children should not do 'vigorous physical activity' when temperatures rise above 30C (86F).
Some sports days have been cancelled this week, while official advice suggests moving school start, end and break times to avoid the hottest points in the day.
Official word from the Government on how schools should respond to the heat could be sent later this week - but it may be left to headteachers to decide.
'We started irrigating our crops here very early this year in the beginning of April.
'But it's been this last two week period where evapotranspiration rates have been so incredibly intense that water has just poured through the crops.'
He said there are three main cost increases - those being the doubling of fuel costs for the tractors to plant the crop, harvest the crop and look after it; the tripling of fertiliser costs; and the trebling of the electricity cost associated with pumping all of that water around.
As for electricity costs, Mr Blenkiron said: 'A usual season we budget about £80,000 for that. This season I've had to budget £250,000 – that three-fold increase.
'But because of this extra 25 to 30 per cent water that we're having to pump round at the moment, that electric bill is going to run to well over £300,000 which is the challenge that's occupying my mind.'
He added that supermarkets are 'not that enthusiastic to increase their prices', particularly for the root crops - and the contracts for those were agreed before Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the recent surge in gas prices.
Mr Blenkiron also said he hoped farmers would have the power to put prices up when contracts are renegotiated in autumn, adding: 'What's going to happen this next season if we don't see some reasonably strong increases in our prices that people just won't plant those crops next year.
'They'll turn to another crop, a winter cereal or something like that – so considerably less investment per acre and considerably less risk.'
Meanwhile, water bosses said customers should take shorter showers and avoid leaving taps running.
Water shortages are said to be worst in Yorkshire, where five million people have been given urgent advice to cut down on how much they use.
Neil Dewis, from Yorkshire Water, said the amount stored in reservoirs had dwindled to levels last seen in 1995 - when supplies ended up being brought to the area by hundreds of tankers.
He said restrictions such as a hosepipe ban could not be ruled out, describing them as 'just one of the tools' the company could use.
Customers in London were also urged to cut down on use by Thames Water, with tips including taking shorter showers and using watering cans instead of hosepipes to keep gardens green.
'While we're not currently expecting to introduce restrictions on water use this summer, it's important that households remain responsible with their usage and help us to limit the pressure on our resources,' said its demand reduction manager, Andrew Tucker.
Households in England and Wales have not seen a ban on using hosepipes enforced for ten years, but South East Water did urge customers to stop using them during a 2020 heatwave.
However its head of water resources, Lee Dance, yesterday insisted reservoir and groundwater stores remained healthy.
But with domestic usage 50 per cent higher than normal during the hot spell, he urged customers to 'play their part by using water wisely, so that we can continue to keep water flowing to everyone'.
Temperatures topped 30C (86F) yesterday for the fourth day running, peaking at 30.1C (86.2F) in Gosport, Hampshire.
The prolonged hot spell has seen highs of 31.7C (89.1F) in Surrey on Tuesday after 32C (90F) in London on Monday, 30.1C (86.2F) last Sunday, 27.5C (81.5F) last Saturday, and 29.3C (84.7F) last Friday.
Wildlife continued to wilt in the heat, with reports of swift chicks dropping to the ground, while donkeys at a sanctuary in Devon were given grass frozen into blocks of ice.
Sleep is likely to be difficult again from Sunday onwards, with a string of 'tropical nights' where temperatures fail to drop below 20C (68F).
Both Monday night and Tuesday night both fell within this category in parts of England.
'We're looking at a prolonged spell of hot weather and very hot nights,' Met Office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth said.
'Where we've got the extreme heat warning, as well as the hot daytime temperatures it will likely be warm at night, which brings trouble sleeping.
'It doesn't look like it will just be one night, it's the cumulative effect of some uncomfortable nights in a row, which no-one will enjoy.'
In response, unions have urged firms to allow staff to work from home or leave the office early to avoid overheating at their desks or on their daily commute - sparking accusations of 'Snowflake Britain'.
The Met Office and UK Health Security Agency have both issued 'danger to life' alerts in advance of predicted soaring temperatures.
Meanwhile London Mayor Sadiq Khan triggered a severe weather emergency response typically activated when temperatures fall to freezing in the winter in order to provide support for people sleeping rough.
And ministers and officials are drawing up plans with the NHS and councils to safeguard against the heatwave, with ambulance trusts already on high alert.
A health minister said that ambulance services are facing 'the sort of pressures we would normally expect to see in winter', insisting the Government is 'making sure that all NHS trusts are prepared' for the heatwave.
People flock to Bournemouth beach in Dorset again today to make the most of the continuing hot weather
A woman takes a selfie while enjoying the warm weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset today
People play volleyball on Bournemouth beach in Dorset this morning as they make the most of the warm weather
People flock to Bournemouth beach in Dorset again today to make the most of the continuing hot weather
People sit on the sand or go into the sea at Bournemouth beach in Dorset again today as they enjoy the hot weather
A woman sunbathes on the sand on Bournemouth beach in Dorset today as she enjoys the warm weather
People flock to Bournemouth beach in Dorset again today to make the most of the continuing hot weather
People sit on the sand or go into the sea at Bournemouth beach in Dorset again today as they enjoy the hot weather
People flock to Bournemouth beach in Dorset again today to make the most of the continuing hot weather
A two-year-old Hungarian Vizsla dog called Jasmine runs through the River Itchen near Riverside Park in Southampton today
People travel by boat under Tower Bridge in London today as the warm weather continues across England
People walk amongst the flower meadows around the Tower of London at the 'Superbloom' display in the capital today
People walk amongst the flower meadows around the Tower of London at the 'Superbloom' display in the capital today
People walk amongst the flower meadows around the Tower of London at the 'Superbloom' display in the capital today
People walk amongst the flower meadows around the Tower of London at the 'Superbloom' display in the capital today
People walk amongst the flower meadows around the Tower of London at the 'Superbloom' display in the capital today
People walk amongst the flower meadows around the Tower of London at the 'Superbloom' display in the capital today
People walk amongst the flower meadows around the Tower of London at the 'Superbloom' display in the capital today
People walk amongst the flower meadows around the Tower of London at the 'Superbloom' display in the capital today
People walk amongst the flower meadows around the Tower of London at the 'Superbloom' display in the capital today
People walk amongst the flower meadows around the Tower of London at the 'Superbloom' display in the capital today
People walk amongst the flower meadows around the Tower of London at the 'Superbloom' display in the capital today
A tall ship meanders along the River Avon and underneath the Clifton Suspension bridge in Bristol this morning
A tall ship approaches a lock along the River Avon at Cumberland Basin in Bristol today ahead of the weekend harbour festival
A hot air balloon passes over Cumberland Basin in the City of Bristol during fine and calm weather in the West Country today
People play Canoe Polo, which is actually played in kayaks, in the water at Cumberland Basin in Bristol this morning
A tall ship approaches a lock along the River Avon at Cumberland Basin in Bristol today ahead of the weekend harbour festival
People play Canoe Polo, which is actually played in kayaks, in the water at Cumberland Basin in Bristol this morning
A tall ship meanders along the River Avon and underneath the Clifton Suspension bridge in Bristol this morning
The full Buck Supermoon sets behind St Michael's Tower on Glastonbury Tor in Somerset early this morning
Health minister Maria Caulfield told the Commons yesterday that 'it's extremely concerning for the months ahead', adding she would be 'meeting all 11 ambulance trusts over the coming days to make sure that they have the capacity and resilience they need'.
Answering an urgent question from Labour about ambulance services and the declaration of a national heatwave emergency, she added: 'In terms of urgency, we have procured a contract for an auxiliary ambulance service with a total value of £30million which will provide national surge capacity if needed to support the ambulance response during periods of increased pressure. So, that is there should we need it.'
Shadow healthy secretary Wes Streeting said 'extreme weather' is putting further pressure on emergency services 'but it is 12 years of Conservative underfunding that has left them unable to cope'.
Responding to a question from Labour's Steve McCabe about the 'terrible situation', Ms Caulfield said: 'He's absolutely right, they are at record pressures.
'These are the sort of pressures we would normally expect to see in winter and we're seeing them in the summer months, which is usually their down time and it's extremely concerning for the months ahead as we do head into winter.
Labour's Naz Shah noted: '24 hours in A&E used to be a (reality) TV programme, now it's Government policy.'
Ms Caulfield said: 'I will be meeting all 11 ambulance trusts over the coming days to make sure that they have the capacity and resilience they need not just to deal with the pressures now, not just to deal with the pressures with the warm weather, but to prepare for the winter pressures that we know will be inevitable and forthcoming.'
She said she has set out a heatwave plan for England, published earlier this year, adding: 'We are making sure that all NHS trusts are prepared.'
In Kent, residents on the Isle of Sheppey can expect their water supply to return today after burst pipes left thousands without water during the hottest week of the year.
Events such as cheese markets, brewery open days and dog sanctuary visits are being cancelled due to the UK heatwave
Two main pipes to the island off the Kent coast burst on Tuesday, affecting 24,000 homes and shutting 12 schools. Bottled water points were set up by Southern Water and tankers were brought in to supply Sheppey Community Hospital.
Southern Water issued a statement this morning saying the supply should return by noon - though residents were told to expect cloudy water and low pressure. Bottled water stations will stay open throughout today.
A spokesman said: 'We're pleased to confirm that customers on the Isle of Sheppey should now be seeing their water supply returning. This will happen gradually over the morning depending on where you are located and which reservoir provides your supply.
'Demand is obviously extremely high so customers will continue to see low pressure as the situation returns to normal. Discoloured water from your taps is normal after a supply interruption.
'This is usually temporary and disappears once the network settles. If the water is cloudy and white, try leaving it in a glass for a few minutes to see if it clears. This will be air trapped in the water as the pipes refilled.
'If the water has a brown or black colour, run your tap for few minutes and it should clear. If this doesn't work, turn the tap off, wait 20 minutes and try again. It's fine to use your water as normal when your water runs clear.
'When your tap water is discoloured brown or black, avoid running hot water taps or using dishwashers, washing machines or any other appliances which use water. It's OK to flush the loo.
An aerial view of the drying out bed and receded water levels at Lindley Wood Reservoir in Otley, West Yorkshire, yesterday
Low water levels are seen on Tuesday on the Carew River in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, which runs alongside Carew Castle
An aerial view taken yesterday of low levels at Scammonden Water, a reservoir that supplies Huddersfield in West Yorkshire
An aerial view taken on Tuesday of what is left of crops that were on fire on Monday during a blaze in Ripon, North Yorkshire
An Environment Agency map of the river levels for June across East Anglia - with the Waveney at just 30 per cent of normal
'Sometimes, after a network has been emptied, air locks can occur either in our pipes or customers' - running taps for a short while can help bring water through.'
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, urged people to check on older relatives, friends and neighbours to see if they needed anything during the high heat.
'Any older person who is already coping with significant health issues, especially if they impact their heart or their lungs, is going to find the coming heatwave a challenge,' she warned.
The Met Office said hot weather was caused by high pressure over the UK, with southerly air flow from the continent developing over the weekend to allow very high temperatures to start spreading northwards.
Experts have warned of the need to adapt homes, cities and infrastructure in the UK for a future of more intense and deadly summer heat.
Professor Emily Shuckburgh, from the University of Cambridge, said: 'Extreme heat is a silent killer with more than 2,500 heat-related deaths recorded in England in summer 2020, with the elderly especially vulnerable.
'Climate change is meaning life-threatening heatwaves are becoming more intense and more frequent.'
She said the 'descent into a dangerous future' could only be halted by a rapid transition to net zero, and said solutions such as providing more green space in cities could both cut climate emissions and limit the impacts of extreme temperatures
Teachers' leaders said schools may cancel sports days to protect pupils and staff while a heatwave warning is in place next week.
The Met Office has issued an 'amber' warning of extreme heat for Sunday 17 and Monday 18 July, with temperatures in the UK possibly climbing to over 35C in the South East.
'Population-wide adverse health effects are likely to be experienced, not limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to potential serious illness or danger to life,' the forecaster said.
Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU teaching union, said the weather will make it 'potentially dangerous' for youngsters to take part in physical activity in the sun.
Dr Bousted said: 'Schools will prioritise safety and wellbeing. It is potentially dangerous to take part in vigorous physical activity in extreme heat, with the risk of heat exhaustion and even heat stroke.'
She said headteachers will be 'checking the local weather forecast and using their professional judgment to cancel or reschedule any activities involving strenuous exercise so as to protect children and staff'.
James Bowen, policy director for school leaders' union NAHT, said school leaders will be 'thinking carefully' about how to keep pupils and staff as 'safe and as comfortable as possible' as temperatures rise.
He added: 'Whilst there is no legal 'upper limit' for temperature in schools, they will certainly be doing all they can to mitigate the effects of such high temperatures.'
Schools will make adjustments, such as limiting breaktimes in the sun, ensuring pupils can access additional water, adjusting uniform expectations where appropriate and ventilating classrooms as well as they can, he said.
'Given that there is no specific upper limit on school temperatures, widespread closures would seem unlikely at this stage,' he said.
'No school will want to have to close after their experiences during the pandemic, so this would very much be a last resort.
'Such a decision would only be taken where absolutely necessary for the safety of all concerned and following a rigorous and thorough risk assessment.
'If, as it appears, warmer summers are going to become the norm, then Government really does need to give urgent thought to improving the state of school buildings. As we have learnt during the pandemic, too many are simply not fit for purpose with even basic ventilation being a challenge in some cases.
'Poorly ventilated classrooms are not only inconducive to work but, as we have seen, also the perfect environment for transmission of viruses.
'Whether it is air quality or extreme temperatures, it shouldn't be too much to ask for school buildings that are conducive to learning all year round.'
Given how close it is to the end of term, most schools will have already had their sports days but in some cases, schools could shorten the length of the sports day or reduce the number of events taking place, Mr Bowen said.
'Sadly, in a small number of cases, schools may have no choice but to postpone. Obviously no-one wants to see this, but the safety of pupils and their families must come first and school leaders will pay close attention to official advice.'
By JACK NEWMAN FOR MAILONLINE
Wildfires continue to rip through Europe amid a 'suffocating' heatwave with temperatures already soaring to a sweltering 115F and expected to rise even further today.
Portugal has been hit by a series of blazes with some encroaching on the exclusive neighbourhood of Quinta do Lago where properties sell for between £1million and £9.5million, home to stars including Roman Abramovich, Duncan Bannatyne, John Terry and Steven Gerrard.
Footage shows swirling flames tearing through the luxury resort, destroying golf courses as panicked tourists desperately tried to flee in their cars from the looming inferno.
Thousands of firefighters and volunteers are battling blazes across the country with one devastated villager describing flames as 'looking like the devil'.
The blistering heat has caused similar fires to break out in Spain, France, Turkey and Croatia as Europe continues to suffer under the furnace-like heat dome blanketing the continent.
Spain's state meteorological agency AEMET said they expect today to be the hottest day so far of the heatwave, despite one unofficial street thermometer in Seville registering a staggering temperature of 120F.
Experts say the city will see official highs of 116F today, as firefighters continue to tackle blazes which have razed at least 3,500 acres in Extremadura.
Most of Spain was placed on high alert Wednesday, and AEMET said some regions were 'suffocating' - especially in the worst-affected Andalusia in the south, Extremadura in the southwest and Galicia in the northwest.
PORTUGAL: A worker reacts as a forest fire hits the lumber factory where he works in Albergaria a Velha, Portugal, as wildfires devastate Europe
Portugal has been devastated by multiple blazes which have encroached on the exclusive neighbourhood of Quinta do Lago (pictured)
Fire burns near a swimming pool during a forest fire in the village of Lavradio, Ourem, in Portugal which is gripped by forest fires
In the southern Algarve region, popular with tourists, a fire broke out in the city of Faro and spread to the Quinta do Lago luxury resort
A forest fire reaches an empty house in Bemposta after residents were forced to flee from the encroaching flames
A house and a carpentry company are left burnt and reduced to rubble after they were ravaged by fire in Pombal in Portugal
An Air Tractor AT-802F 'Fire Boss' airplane takes part in firefighting operations at Gesteira de Baixo
FRANCE: Beach-goers bathe and lay at a beach of Pyla sur mer as a black cloud of smoke from a fire that hit La Teste-de-Buch forest rises from the Pyla Dune in the background
TURKEY: A firefighting helicopter carries water over a wildfire forest fire which broke out in the Datca district of Mugla
CROATIA: Fueled by strong winds, fires raged at Croatia's Adriatic Sea, with the most dramatic situation reported near the town of Sibenik
SPAIN: A thermometer displaying 49C (120F) is seen in an empty street during the second heatwave of the year, in Seville
The blistering heat has caused fires to break out in Spain, Portugal, France, Turkey and Croatia
It is not only Europe, but also the US and China that are suffering from dangerous heatwaves this summer.
The Azores High pressure system which usually sits off the coast of Spain has grown larger and moved north, bringing warmer temperatures to France, the UK and the Iberian peninsula.
On top of this, southerly winds from northern Africa and the Sahara are bringing hotter than usual temperatures, combined with July's already warmer weather.
The result is a heat dome over much of Europe, a mass of stagnant hot air.
A similar area of heat-trapping high pressure is blanketing the US, while anticyclones have driven upt he temperatures in China.
Across the border in Portugal, a number of 'infernal' wildfires have ravaged regions, destroying homes, businesses and golf courses.
João Anastácio, 63, said he had to shut himself inside with a wet towel over his head as the blaze raged outside his home in Ansião.
He said: 'It looked like the devil. Everything around my house burned.'
One person died in a forest blaze after a body was found in a burned area in the northern region of Aveiro.
At Leiria, central Portugal, locals fought to save their village as fires closed in on them.
'Everything burned yesterday except the houses, because the people are very brave and defended them themselves,' said 77-year-old farmer Adelino Rodrigues.
'The firefighters arrived much later. It looked like the end of the world,' he recalled.
In the southern Algarve region, popular with tourists, a fire broke out in the city of Faro and spread to the Quinta do Lago luxury resort.
Duncan Bannatyne revealed he and his wife had to flee from his Portuguese mansion amid the blaze.
The former Dragons Den star, 73, now lives full time with wife Nigora, 42, in Vale do Lobo - where a fire broke out.
Duncan took to Twitter to tell his followers that he and his family were forced to leave their home after flames spread through the resort where he lives amid a heatwave.
He wrote: 'Terrible day in the Algarve today. We have survived but it was a bit scary. Yes. We had to leave our homes today but luckily very few properties were damaged.'
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Wildfires: The former Dragons Den star, 73, took to Twitter to tell his followers that he and his family were forced to leave their home after flames spread through the resort where he lives
A worker runs away when a forest fire that has hit the lumber factory where he works in Albergaria a Velha
Residents react and try to fight the fire as they see the forest lands around their houses burning
Firefighters during a forest fire that has hit a timber factory in Portugal as wildfires sweep across the country
Thousands of firefighters battled more than 20 blazes that raged on Wednesday across Portugal and western Spain, menacing villages and disrupting tourists' holidays
A truck carrying water tanks drives by a forest fire as smoke darkens the sky in the village of Bemposta, near Ansiao, central Portugal
A woman runs in front of a gas station close to the forest fire in Palmela, Portugal, with the fire still burning today near a petrol station
In Portugal, a number of 'infernal' wildfires have ravaged regions, destroying homes, businesses and golf courses
Firefighters fight the flames near a house threatened by a fire in the Ludo area, Faro, Algarve, in the south of Portugal
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A resident tries puts out a fire with a tree branch as his sees the forest lands surrounding his home burning in Portugal
The entrepreneur also shared footage of a helicopter which scooped up water from the sea, saying: 'They are doing a fantastic job.'
He also posted a video of the emergency services and fire brigade arriving near his home, admitting he couldn't go back until the paths had been cleared.
He was heard telling Nigora in the clip: 'So we can't go home because they are blocking the road down to our house.
'Maybe the fire has started again. As Nigora can be heard saying: 'S**t what do we do next?' Duncan replies: 'Nothing we do except stay here for the moment'.'
He then added: 'Was a hell of a day in the Algarve today.'
Videos shared online showed flames edging close to swanky villas, burning palm trees and parts of golf courses.
In the village of Bemposta, residents used garden hoses to spray down their lawns and the roofs of their houses in the hope that they could save them from the raging wall of red flames that approached through the wooded hills.
'It began spreading towards that way (the right), the wind was blowing that way towards the mountain,' said 88-year-old Antonio Carmo Pereira, while pointing to the flames on the outskirts of his village.
'I could see the view, but in a few minutes I couldn't see anything, just smoke. (It's) dangerous, yes. It's surrounding all the houses.
'I am afraid, but where can I go? Jump into a water tank? Let me stay here and look.'
The government has temporarily barred public access to forests deemed to be at special risk, banned the use of farm machinery and outlawed fireworks.
About 10,000 hectares have been scorched this week in Portugal, according to the Civil Protection Agency.
About 865 people had been forced to evacuated their homes over the past week, although many had returned by Thursday.
More than 30 homes and other types of buildings had been damaged.
Civil Protection commander Andre Fernandes said that 160 people, including at least 70 firefighters, have been injured so far, but that there are no confirmed fatalities from the fires.
Four people, including two firefighters, were seriously injured.
About half of drought-hit Portugal will remain on red alert for extreme heat conditions on Thursday, with the highest temperatures expected in the Santarem and Castelo Branco districts, the IPMA weather institute said.
Meteorologists said an overheated mass of air and warm African winds are driving temperatures in the Iberian Peninsula beyond their usual highs (pictured: Madrid)
helicopter pours water into a forest fire in Monsagro, Salamanca, Spain, which spread uncontrollably through pine forests
A view of a burned area due to a fire in Monsagro which saw 1,000 hectares destroyed by the blaze
Spain's state meteorological agency AEMET said they expect today to be the hottest day so far of the heatwave
Wednesday's highest temperature was registered in the central town of Lousa at 115 Fahrenheit, one degree below a 2003 record.
Retiree Antonio Ramalheiro blamed inadequate forest management in addition to the heat wave for the wildfires.
'It is scary when the fire comes,' the 62-year-old said. 'If it reaches the house it is a disgrace...you lose everything.'
At least 135 people have suffered mainly minor injuries since wildfires began in Portugal last week, and about 800 people have been evacuated from their homes, according to the Civil Protection Authority.
In France, more than 2,700 hectares have burned so far in the Gironde region, prefect Buccio told BFM TV.
The biggest of the two fires is around the town of Landiras, south of Bordeaux, where roads have been closed and 500 residents evacuated.
The other one is along the Atlantic Coast, close to the iconic Dune du Pilat - the tallest sand dune in Europe - located in the Arcachon Bay area, above which heavy clouds of dark smoke were seen rising in the sky.
That fire led to the preventive evacuation of 6,000 people from five surrounding campsites. They were taken to a local exhibition centre for shelter.
'Other campers woke us up at around 4.30 in the morning. We had to leave immediately and quickly choose what to take with us,' Christelle, one of the evacuated tourists, told BFM TV.
On the eve of Bastille Day, the Gironde prefecture has forbidden all fireworks until Monday in towns and villages in close proximity to forests.
A huge inferno looms behind a firefighter in the Gironde region of France which has been destroyed by devastating wildfires
In France, the fire brigade in the Gironde region struggles to put out a huge forest fire ripping through the countryside
Two men sunbath on the grass on Place de la Daurade, in Toulouse, southern France, amid soaring temperatures across the continent
Tourists look at the plume of dark smoke on the shoreline of Arcachon from the peer in Andernos-les-Bains, due to a wildfire in a forest near La Teste
A dog drinks from a fountain in Paris after a second heatwave to rock Europe in less than a month
Children sprinkle themselves with water from the fountain in the Water Mirror, during a heat wave, in Bordeaux
A spate of wildfires is scorching parts of Europe, with firefighters battling blazes in Portugal, Spain and southern France (pictured)
A firefighter works to extinguish a wildfire at the bottom of the Dune du Pilat near La Teste-de-Buch, southwestern France
'There were flames at the top of the trees 30 metres high,' mayor Mylene Doreau told AFP.
'We could see them moving towards the village, it was scary.'
Some 600 firefighters have been battling the blazes in the region, aided by waterbomber aircraft.
To limit the risk of accidental fire, some cities - including Toulouse and Lourdes - made changes to their Bastille Day celebrations on Thursday. Nimes simply cancelled the traditional fireworks altogether.
Spectators at the annual Tour de France, which is currently crossing the French Alps, watched the riders tackle some of the bike race's toughest climbs in the blazing sunshine on Wednesday.
'They really feel the heat. I'm just standing here watching,' French student Jean Gosselin, 18, said sympathetically.
Last week, an avalanche triggered by the collapse of the largest glacier in the Italian Alps - due to unusually warm temperatures - killed 11 people.
In Greece, two people were killed after a firefighting helicopter with four crew members aboard crashed into the sea, the coastguard and fire service said on Thursday.
The two men, from Romania and Moldova, had been recovered unconscious in the water off the island of Samos on Wednesday evening and taken to the hospital there.
Efforts to resuscitate them failed, a spokeswoman for the coastguards told AFP.
A wildfire rages on a mountain slope on the island of Samos, Greece, where two people have died in a rescue helicopter crash
A helicopter takes part in a search and rescue operation near the eastern Aegean Sea island of Samos after another helicopter crashed into the sea
Volunteers help to extinguish a wildfire forest fire which broke out in the Datca district of Mugla, Turkey
In Turkey, thousands were evacuated due to a wildfire in the southwestern Datca peninsula, as firefighters battled to contain the blazes fanned by strong winds that spread to residential areas overnight
Forestry Minister Vahit Kirisci said preliminary investigations showed the fire broke out at an electrical transformer around midday on Wednesday
Smoke rises from a wildfire as it is seen from Kargi Bay in Datca in Mugla province, Turkey
The other crew members, the Romanian pilot and a Greek colleague, had been saved, the emergency services said.
State television ERT said the accident occurred when the helicopter was resupplying with sea water to fight a fire that broke out on Wednesday afternoon near the village of Paleochori, in the southwest of the Aegean island.
The fire continued to burn on Thursday, fanned by strong winds.
Around 100 firefighters and 15 vehicles, backed up by an army of volunteers, were on site to tackle it, the authorities said.
An inquiry has been launched into the cause of the blaze.
Meanwhile in Turkey, thousands were evacuated due to a wildfire in the southwestern Datca peninsula, as firefighters battled to contain the blazes fanned by strong winds that spread to residential areas overnight.
Forestry Minister Vahit Kirisci said preliminary investigations showed the fire broke out at an electrical transformer around midday on Wednesday.
'What makes our job a little more difficult is the wind effect, the direction and intensity of which are unpredictable,' he said early on Thursday.
A firefighter watches wildfire burn in Zaton, Croatia, which has also been rocked by devastating blazes
Water-dropping planes and dozens of firefighters struggled to contain the flames that briefly engulfed some cars and a church tower
Turkey's Disaster Management Authority (AFAD) said some 450 houses and 3,530 people were evacuated as fires reached residential areas in the sparsely populated parts of the peninsula.
Footage from Wednesday showed smoke billowing from the woodlands as helicopters doused water on the blazes while the flames spread. It also showed the garden of a house engulfed in smoke, with trees in the yard catching fire.
The Mugla province mayor's office said 17 houses and 728 hectares of land were affected by the fire. It shared data that showed winds in the region had eased significantly on Thursday morning.
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said 19 people had been affected by the fire and nine of them were still being treated as of Thursday morning.
Authorities said 10 planes and 20 helicopters, including one that can operate at night, were involved in the efforts to douse the flames.
Fuelled by strong winds, fires also hit Croatia's Adriatic Sea coast, with the most dramatic situation reported near the town of Sibenik, where water-dropping planes and dozens of firefighters struggled to contain the flames that briefly engulfed some cars and a church tower.
Regional N1 television reported that some residents evacuated the area in rubber boats. Fires were also reported near the coastal town of Zadar.
Firefighter Boris Dukic told state HRT television that 'it's hell, we don't know where to go first.'
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